Hot Rods The Nerf Bar

[cruzr]

Heres my rear..........nerf that is

[zibo]

Squeak's,
but these are bordering on being called bumpers.



TP

[gnichols]

As an aside, and not to cause a big controversy, does anyone know why the hot rod guys call these tiny custom bumperettes "nerf" bars and the oval racers call them bumpers? I realize that in the early days oval and straight-line cars and their builders were often one in the same, but the no turning allowed crowd only needs a rear bumper / push bar. Anything else is just extra weight. Oval racers need protection all around but they call their side bars "nerfs" and the front and rear bars are still called bumpers. And they are made to be used and take quite a bit of punishment. Yet regardless of the sporting arena, a majority of these bars are almost always made in the same way and with the same materials. Of course the hot rodders bumpers (nerfs) differ significantly when it comes to style / personalization and normally don't offer any significant protection, other than perhaps protecting your grille insert. I really like the looks of these bars, whatever you call them then or now, because the reflect a little style from days gone by. Chrome / stainless bars really dress up any race car or hot rod / custom, eh? Anyone know? Care? Gary

[chaos10meter]

Originally Posted by yblock292

I have always liked them but wonder , why are they called "nerf"?
,

Me too ?

[squirrel]

anyone ever heard of wikipedia? may not be the right answer, but it is an answer

"A "nerf" is a small, sometimes intentional, collision between two cars in which one driver bumps the other to facilitate a successful pass. The nerf bar protects the sides of the vehicles and also keeps their tires from becoming entangled."

[1950ChevySuburban]

Gary, I wondered that too. When does a nerf bar become a bumper? Is it thickness, or width?
The one on Chris Casny's could be either, and it looks great.

[Joshua Shaw]

I've built a BUNCH! ...and your right, it's a fine line. I think the answer lies somehwere in the magic of looking like it "might" actually be functional but it's NOT, as oppossed to actually being big and strong enough to take a "bump".


Here's a few I've done over the years.

[Joshua Shaw]

few more

[Autojunkie]

I've beeen looking at my optional "factory" front nerf on my 48. To mt it looks too bulky. I havent got to that point yet, but I was considering removing the fron bumper an modifying the existing nerf to fit sans bumper and bumperettes. I definately want to tighten up the front and rear somehow though.

[STEPHEN FIELDS]

Thanks Ryan...Im big on nerf bars. Alot of people dont do them anymore but it was a big part of hot rodding in the 50's and early 60's. I especially like the one's with the builders initials in them (hokey maybe?) but its still kool....

[tommy]

I bought this one at Carlisle. I know I could have made a nicer one but the romance of having one made in a back yard garage sometime in the 50s was too much for me to resist.


The best one was the one that used a 49 Chevy front tag guard in the middle. It came in the AMT 40 Ford coupe kit.

[weez]

Originally Posted by Autojunkie

I've beeen looking at my optional "factory" front nerf on my 48. To mt it looks too bulky. I havent got to that point yet, but I was considering removing the fron bumper an modifying the existing nerf to fit sans bumper and bumperettes. I definately want to tighten up the front and rear somehow though.

I think your Dodge needs its bumpers! I like those years, (my Dad's first car was a '47 sedan)

Also, that's an accessory overrider, not a nerf. Maybe the overrider could go, but that thing is gonna look awkward without a bumper. You could shave the guards, but the bumpers overlap and bolt together underneath them.

[1stGrumpy]

I have to agree with weez, the car needs bumpers to look right. A set of ribbed bumpers would look good. My 2cents...

[Paul B]

I bought 2 sets of the double bends for my 39. have to make extentions for the rear. beautiful parts

[gnichols]

Originally Posted by squirrel

anyone ever heard of wikipedia? may not be the right answer, but it is an answer

"A "nerf" is a small, sometimes intentional, collision between two cars in which one driver bumps the other to facilitate a successful pass. The nerf bar protects the sides of the vehicles and also keeps their tires from becoming entangled."

Exactly, as in the often used "slide job" pass that wasn't completed properly or in unintentional side to side contact as the cars track / shift around laterally when racing close aboard. The nerf (side) bars hit, and help keep the wheels from touching. Conversely, as a kid I always heard people saying at the track that one car got nerfed out of the way and I used that term nerfing myself to mean, incorrectly it would seem, for bumping someone out of the way versus side to side contact. Gary

[1950ChevySuburban]

So, if a nerf is a small bump or contact, that's probably where Nerf balls got their name.

A Nerf bar: where people get drunk and throw foam at each other.

[Landmule]

I love the McCoy '40. To me it's just right. Nerf bars are really tough though. They either pull it all together like the McCoy car or the 37 posted earlier, or they just fail. Seems to be no middle ground. Subtlety is the key, I suppose, something that compliments the car but doesn't overwhelm it. It takes a good eye and an even better fabricator to pull this off. Of course, the same can be said of most elements of a really well done project.

[Autojunkie]

Originally Posted by 1stGrumpy

I have to agree with weez, the car needs bumpers to look right. A set of ribbed bumpers would look good. My 2cents...

Thanks guys! It's the kind of input I'm looking for (OT for this thread), but I'm still weighing my options since I just picked this thing up a couple months ago. I like the idea of a ribbed bumper. My biggest fear is making a mistake on something that I can't go back on.

I guess what I really need is Weez to draw me up something I can be inspired by (hehe)

[Harms Way]

A 50's survivor Deuce 5/W I greatly admired in the 70's,.. The Nerf bars were thrown away,....

[clemsoncrewman]

Bass engineered one hell of a nerf bar/headlight mount/shock mount for his '29 roadster. Form AND function...same as everything else that comes out of his shop.